Lord Elystan-Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the 12.5 per cent. reduction in financial support for grassland-based sustainable research is to be apportioned among the subject areas concerned.

Lord Bach: Defra is strengthening science and innovation to support its wider policy agenda on climate change and energy. This has resulted in an 11.56 per cent. reduction in funding for sustainable farming and food research for 2006–07. At the same time Defra has been refocusing this programme to align it more closely with Defra's strategic priorities. The recommendations from the Research Priorities Group report informed this refocusing. The new programme areas in sustainable farming and food will be cross-sectoral covering climate change; water; sustainable farming systems and biodiversity; and food chain, post farm gate.

Agriculture: Grassland-based Sustainable Research

Lord Elystan-Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the potential effects of the cuts in financial support for grassland-based sustainable research are consistent with the recommendations of the Curry report and the recommendations of the Research Priorities Group of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Bach: Defra is strengthening science and innovation to support its wider policy agenda on climate change and energy. This has resulted in an 11.56 per cent. reduction in funding for sustainable farming and food research for 2006–07. At the same time Defra has been refocusing this programme to align it more closely with Defra's strategic priorities. The recommendations from the Research Priorities Group report informed this refocusing. The new programme areas in sustainable farming and food will be cross-sectoral covering climate change; water; sustainable farming systems and biodiversity; and food chain, post farm gate.

Lord Bach: There will be no expenditure on the Higher Level Scheme in 2005–06. The first agreements took effect from 1 February 2006, and the first payments are due in August this year.
	Regional budgets for 2006–07 are currently being revised to take account of the number of new applicants expected to join the scheme in the next few months. I shall write to the Baroness with a regional breakdown of budgets once they have been prepared.

Lord Bach: Full details of payment rates under Higher Level Stewardship can be found on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/pdfs/es/hls-payment-booklet.pdf.

Lord Bach: Defra, in discussion with government agencies, has outlined the key characteristics of the different parts of the English countryside, by defining over 150 Joint Character Areas (JCAs). Each area has priority targets for the management of a variety of features. Higher Level Stewardship agreements are assessed against these targets, and a targeting statement is included in application packs. Further details of the JCAs can be found on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/jca-ts/default.htm.

Lord Bach: Since April 2002, England's regional development agencies have been financed through a single programme budget (the "single pot"). This replaced a range of funding programmes administered by the RDAs, such as the single regeneration budget, and through which each government department's funding contribution to the RDAs was made. However, RDAs are required to meet legacy commitments to SRB rounds one to six from within their single programme resources.
	Money from the contributing Departments (DTI, ODPM, DfES, Defra, DCMS and UKTI) is pooled into one single budget (the single pot). Once allocated, funding is available to the RDAs to spend as they see fit, to achieve the regional priorities identified in regional economic strategies, and national priorities set out in the RDA tasking framework. One of the overarching PSA targets in the tasking framework is Defra's rural productivity and access to services target, which requires RDAs to address the needs of rural communities. To support this, Defra's contribution to the single pot has increased from £46 million in 2004–05 to £72 million in 2005–06.
	Given these arrangements, RDAs are not required to produce specific figures on the basis requested. However, RDAs do report on their achievements in delivering outputs on a six-monthly basis. From this year for the first time, outputs will also be disaggregated on a rural/urban/disadvantaged basis.
	How each RDA utilises its single pot allocation will vary according to regional need. Details of RDA priorities and planned spending can be found in individual RDA corporate plans, with six-monthly reports on performance setting out what has been achieved. These documents can be found on each RDA website.

Baroness Andrews: The fire and rescue service is a local responsibility, and fire and rescue Authorities are independent employers. The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	It is probable that there will have been a number of retirements, but the terms would have been a matter for the then fire authorities concerned.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The available statistics are given in the table. Data are available only from 1995 onwards.Total 1 Assaults on Police Officers by degree of injury (1995–2005).
	
		
			  Minor or no injury2 SeriousInjury3 Deaths 
			 As at 31 March 1995 8,067 423 0 
			 As at 31 March 1996 7,490 424 0 
			 As at 31 March 1997 7,858 359 0 
			 As at 31 March 1998 6,917 456 0 
			 As at 31 March 1999 6,896 203 0 
			 As at 31 March 2000 7,656 194 0 
			 As at 31 March 2001 7,487 223 0 
			 As at 31 March 2002  7,524 293 0 
			 As at 31 March 2003 6,499 198 0 
			 As at 31 March 2004 7,119 253 0 
			 As at 31 March 2005 6,681 241 0 
		
	
	1 Due to incomplete data provided by police forces, the following forces are excluded from the total: Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Leicestershire, City of London, Metropolitan Police, North Wales, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, West Midlands.
	2 Minor injury includes those assaults for which the charge would be under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act, Section 38 of the Offences Against the Person Act, Sections 89(1) and 89(2) of the Police Act 1996 and Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
	3 Serious injury includes those assaults for which the charge would be under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average daily number of vehicles using the Northern Ireland A1 in both directions (a) between Sprucefield and Hillsborough; (b) between Lisburn and Hillsborough; (c) on the Hillsborough bypass between Dromore and Banbridge; (d) on the Banbridge bypass; (e) between Loughbrickland and Newry; (f) on the Newry Bypass stages I, II and III; (g) on the Dublin Road in Newry; and (h) between Newry and the border, for each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated 1 March 2006.
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about the average daily number of vehicles using the Northern Ireland A1 in both directions (a) between Sprucefield and Hillsborough; (b) between Lisburn and Hillsborough; (c) on the Hillsborough bypass between Dromore and Banbridge; (d) on the Banbridge bypass; (e) between Loughbrickland and Newry; (f) on Newry Bypass stages I, II and III; (g) on the Dublin Road in Newry; and (h) between Newry and the border, for each of the past five years for which figures are available.
	I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	By way of background, I should explain that Roads Service collects traffic volume data by means of 270 automatic census points strategically located throughout the Northern Ireland road network. The information is generally recorded for one week in each quarter during the year and an annual average daily traffic flow is calculated. There are a number of sites where traffic is counted continuously. The results are published in Roads Service's annual Traffic and Travel Information Report, which presents the traffic volumes in a variety of formats for each site.
	The locations of the automatic census points on the A1 between Lisburn and the border are given in Table A attached and cross referenced to parts (a) to (h) of your Question above. At census points 419 and 434 traffic is counted continuously at the other sites traffic is counted for one week in each quarter.
	The Annual Average Daily Traffic flows calculated for each site for the last available 5 years are given in Tables B and C.
	The 2005 figures are not yet available but will be published in the 2005 Traffic and Travel Information Report in due course.
	I hope this information is helpful.
	
		Table A: Traffic Counts on A1 between Sprucefield and the Border
		
			 Direction of flow of traffic 
			 Cross referenced to parts (a) to (h) of PQ 831/06 Road No. Census Point No. Location Channel 1 Channel 2 
			 (a) (b) Al 522 Sprucefield-Hillsborough, at Carnbane Road To Lisburn To Hillsborough 
			 (c) A1 530 Hillsborough Bypass To Lisburn To Dromore 
			 (d) A1 410 Dromore-Banbridge To Dromore To Banbridge 
			 (d) A1 411 Banbridge By-Pass To Dromore To Newry 
			 (e) A1 419 Loughbrickland-Newry To Newry To Belfast 
			 (f) A1 437 Newry Bypass (Stage 1) To Border To Belfast 
			 (f) A1 438 Newry Bypass (Stage 2) To Border To Belfast 
			 (f) A1 439 Newry Bypass (Stage 3) To Belfast To Border 
			 (g) A1 405 Dublin Road, Newry To Newry To Border 
			 (h) A1 434 Newry-Dundalk To Newry To Border 
		
	
	Traffic Counts on A1 between Sprucefield and the border.
	
		Table B
		
			2004Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 2003Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 2002Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 RoadNo. CensusPoint No. Location Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total 
			 A1 522* Lisburn-Hillsborough, at Carnbane 13,080 14,190 27,270 16,910 17,070 33,980 17,250 17,540 34,790 
			 A1 530* Hillsborough Bypass 13,040 14,120 27,160 13,853 13,865 27,718 13,390 13,339 26,729 
			 A1 410* Dromore-Banbridge 12,300 12,240 24,540 11,890 11,830 23,720 11,810 11,700 23,510 
			 A1 411* Banbridge By-Pass 10,010 9,790 19,800 8,740 8,990 17,730 7,350 10,460 17,810 
			 A1 419** Loughbrickland and Newry 8,950 9,150 18,100 8,980 9,000 17,980 8,150 8,960 17,110 
			 A1 437* Newry Bypass (Stage 1) 9,770 9,680 19,450 9,020 8,650 17,670 8,340 8,350 16,650 
			 A1 438* Newry Bypass (Stage 2) 12,140 13,060 25,210 11,100 12,110 23,210 12,650 9,790 22,440 
			 A1 439* Newry Bypass (Stage 3) 8,680 8,710 17,390 7,830 7,880 15,710 7,600 7,630 15,230 
			 A1 405* Dublin Road, Newry 9,980 10,270 20,250 9,740 9,940 19,680 9,570 9,510 19,080 
			 A1 434** Newry-Dundalk 10,210 10,360 20,570 8,590 9,010 17,600 8,920 9,080 18,000   
		
	
	#The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	**At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24hrs/7days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	*At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average, Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	
		Table C
		
			2001Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 2000Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 RoadNo. CensusPoint No. Location Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total 
			 A1 522* Lisburn-Hillsborough, at Carnbane 16,550 16,900 33,450 16,290 14,550 30,840 
			 A1 530* Hillsborough Bypass N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 
			 A1 410* Dromore-Banbridge 11,290 11,240 22,530 10,730 10,380 21,120 
			 A1 411* Banbridge By-Pass 8,200 8,040 16,240 8,590 8,370 16,960 
			 A1 419** Loughbrickland-Newry 6,900 9,970 16,870 8,470 8,470 16,940 
			 A1 437* Newry Bypass (Stage 1) 7,350 7,700 15,050 8,320 8,290 16,600 
			 A1 438* Newry Bypass (Stage 2) 10,370 10,070 20,440 10,660 10,190 20,850 
			 A1 439* Newry Bypass (Stage 3) 6,840 6,800 13,640 7,310 7,270 14,580 
			 A1 405* Dublin Road, Newry 9,300 8,990 18,290 9,640 9,670 19,310 
			 A1 434** Newry-Dundalk 8,740 8,990 17,730 9,450 9,580 19,030 
		
	
	Note:
	Where "N/A" appears this means that either the counter was not yet in place or the information was deemed unreliable following quality checks.
	# The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	** At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24 hours/7 days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	* At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Roads Service Dr Malcolm McKibbin has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated 1 March 2006.
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about the average daily number of vehicles using the M1 motorway in Northern Ireland in both directions and for all measured points.
	I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service.
	By way of background, I should explain that Roads Service collects traffic volume data by means of 270 automatic census points strategically located throughout the Northern Ireland road network. The information is generally recorded for one week in each quarter during the year and an annual average daily traffic flow is calculated. There are a number of sites where traffic is counted continuously. The results are published in Roads Service's annual Traffic and Travel Information Report, which presents the traffic volumes in a variety of formats for each site.
	The locations of the automatic census points on the M1 are given in Table A attached. At census point 403 traffic is counted continuously, at the other sites traffic is counted for one week in each quarter.
	The annual average daily traffic flows calculated for each site for the last available five years are given in Tables B and C.
	I hope this information is helpful.
	
		Table A: Traffic Counts on M1 Motorway
		
			Direction of Flow of Traffic 
			 Road Number Census PointNumber Location Channel 1 Channel 2 
			 M1 201 Broadway-Stockman's Lane (Junction 2) To Belfast From Belfast 
			 M1 227 Stockman's Lane Junction (above roundabout) To Belfast From Belfast 
			 M1 230 Blacks Road on-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 231 Blacks Road off-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 520 Blacks Road-Saintfield Road (Junction 6) To Belfast From Belfast 
			 M1 521 Sprucefield (Junction 7)–Moira (Junction 9) To Lisburn To Moira 
			 M1 403 Lough Road (Junction 10)–Ballynacor (Junction 11) To Lurgan To Dungannon 
			 M1 435 M1 to M12 off-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 436 M12 to M1 on-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 404 Stangmore (Junction 15)–Tamnamore (Junction 14) To Dungannon To Lurgan 
		
	
	
		Table B: Traffic Counts on M1 Motorway
		
			2004Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 2003Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 2002Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 RoadNo. CensusPoint No. Location Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total 
			 M1 201* Broadway-Stockman's Lane Junction 30,240 30,130 60,370 30,360 30,020 60,380 27,880 26,790 54,670 
			 M1 227* Stockman's Lane Junction (above roundabout) N/A N/A N/A 24,760 24,370 49,130 25,460 25,060 50,520 
			 M1 230* Blacks Road on-slip 13,070 One-way 13,070 One-way Traffic Flow 12,740 One-way Traffic Flow 13,910 
			 M1 231* Blacks Road off-slip 12,700 One-way 12,700 One-way Traffic Flow 13,070 One-way Traffic Flow 13,170 
			 M1 520* Blacks Road-Saintfield Road, (Junction 6) 22,700 23,280 45,980 21,700 22,030 43,730 19,920 20,620 40,540 
			 M1 521* Sprucefield (Junction 7)–Moira (Junction 9) 16,770 16,640 33,410 16,220 16,030 32,250 15,970 15,470 31,440 
			 M1 403** Lough Road (Junction 10)– Ballynacor (Junction 11) 16,130 16,610 32,740 15,890 16,350 32,240 20,380 11,950 32,330 
			 M1 435* M1 to M12 off-slip 2,120 One-way 2,120 One-way Traffic Flow 1,920 One-way Traffic Flow 1,830 
			 M1 436* M12 to M1 on-slip 2,050 One-way 2,050 One-way Traffic Flow 1,850 One-way Traffic Flow 1,770 
			 M1 404* Stangmore (Junction 15)–Tamnamore (Junction 14) 9,190 9,060 18,250 8,830 8,700 17,530 N/A N/A N/A 
		
	
	Note:
	Where "N/A" appears this means that either the counter was not yet in place or the information was deemed unreliable following quality checks.
	# The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	* At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24 hours/7 days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	** At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	
		Table C: Traffic Counts on M1 Motorway
		
			2001Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 2000Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 RoadNo. CensusPoint No. Location Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total 
			 M1 201* Broadway-Stockman's Lane(Junction 2) 28,530 20,820 49,350 N/A N/A N/A 
			 M1 227* Stockman's Lane Junction(above roundabout) 24,650 24,620 49,270 24,630 24,770 49,400 
			 M1 230* Blacks Road on-slip Combined  13,600 Combined  14,040 
			 M1 231* Blacks Road off-slip Combined  12,880 Combined  12,960 
			 M1 520* Blacks Road-Saintfield Road (Junction 6) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 
			 M1 521* Sprucefield (Junction 7)–Moira (Junction 9) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 
			 M1 403** Lough Road (Junction 10)–Ballynacor (Junction 11) 13,910 14,000 27,910 14,470 14,740 29,210 
			 M1 435* M1 to M12 off-slip 1 Channelonly  1,130 1 Channelonly  1,010 
			 M1 436* M12 to M1 on-slip 1 Channelonly  1,710 1 Channelonly  1,500 
			 M1 404* Stangmore (Junction 15)–Tamnamore (Junction 14) 7,700 7,920 15,620 7,470 7,540 15,010 
		
	
	Note:
	Where "N/A" appears this means that either the counter was not yet in place or the information was deemed unreliable following quality checks.
	#The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	* At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24 hours/7 days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	**At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.